More Visiting and Resident Artists. 10.22 – 10.28

Remember these jukeboxes?

It’s another week of music to pique your curiosity and raise your spirits. We have some interesting visiting artists (like Omaha Diner) and exciting resident artists providing all sorts of music for your listening (and dancing) pleasure. Have a good week.

Steven Hobert Piano Improvisation @ The Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar, Saint Paul. 7:30 – 9:30pm (Tip Jar) Hobert is a sensitive and imaginative piano player, who can take off on flights of fancy and anchor a swinging tune as well.

Thursday, October 23Elizabeth Shepard @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($10 Suggested Donation) Thursday’s vocal night at Jazz Central features a visiting artist, Elizabeth Shepard, whose 2006 album, Start to Move, was voted one of the top jazz albums of the year on the highly influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC. She’s a Canadian pianist/vocalist who has been called “a jazz virtuoso with a pop sensibility,” an apt description for her re-imagining of standards and her originals. Her most recent album, The Signal, received a positive write-up in the October issue of Jazz Times.

Pavel Jany @ The Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar, Saint Paul. 7:30pm ($5 – $20 Suggested Donation) A rare solo performance from guitarist Jany, who is proficient, to say the least, in Latin rhythms as well as improvisation. With his knowledge of songs and rhythms, this is likely to be a musical trip around the world.

Katie Gearty Trio @ Parma 8200, Bloomington. 7:30pm (No Cover) Ms Gearty is a highly versatile singer, more than capable of singing jazz, rock, pop, and soul. She’s performed with Hookers & Blow, Mick Sterling, Bruce Henry, Arne Fogel, SteveClarke, and Zacc Harris, and starred in the musical “Lot of Living To Do” at The Southern Theater. Here’s a chance to hear her in an intimate setting. (There’s pretty darn good bar food available as well.)

Kevin Washington Quintet @ Dakota Late Night, Minneapolis. 11:30pm ($5) Drummer Washington is conversant in all kinds of rhythms, not to mention a panoply of musical styles, having played with Chico Freeman, James Carter, David “Fathead” Newman and a host of others. Expect some pretty swingin’ music tonight, as well as something Latin and something funky. Here they are about a year ago at the Dakota.

Saturday, October 25Pippi Ardennia @ The Bedlam Lowertown, Saint Paul. 7pm – 10pm ($?) Pippi’s celebrating her birthday by singing “feel good” music from a repertoire that includes jazz, R&B, and even some blues. I’ll be spinning vinyl afterwards.

Monday, October 27Omaha Diner @ the Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($35) Here’s a group of stellar improvisers who play top 40 songs. In fact they guarantee that every song they play has hit #1 on Billboard’s pop chart. Now, given the lineup, with artists who have worked with folks ranging from Iggy Pop, Elton John, REM, and Linda Ronstadt, to Roswell Rudd, the Moscow Circus, and Sonny Sharrock, I’m not sure you’ll be able to recognize the songs, but I am sure you’ll be surprised. Charlie Hunter, seven-string electric guitar; Steve Bernstein, trumpets; Bobby Previte, drums; and Skerik, tenor sax. Here they are doing Love Train.

Doug Little @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 8:30pm ($10 Suggested Donation) Doug is a super talented reed player, with an affinity for Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms. He’s a key player in a number of groups, but tonight he’ll be working with bass and drums.

Blues, Roots, Other….

Wednesday, October 22Creole Choir @ The Ordway, Saint Paul. 7:30pm ($20 – $45) The music of this Cuban group of ten vocalists draws on West African and Caribbean influences and is marked by passionate vocals and percussion. A must for any student of Cuban music and rhythms.

Ross Kleiner & the Thrill @ Lee’s Liquor Lounge, Minneapolis. 9pm. (Free) This is a band that does more than simply revive rockabilly and old R&B. They add their own accents to create music that’s uniquely their own. Show up early if you want to take advantage of Shannon’s free dance lessons. Then you can swing, Lindy, or what have you to this outfit.

Thursday, October 23Siama Matuzungidi & Mikkel Beckmen @ The Dubliner Pub, Saint Paul. 5pm – 7pm (Tip Jar) Matuzungidi is a vocalist and guitarist from Republic of Congo/Zaire. Beckmen, host of this Thursday series, plays washboard and other percussion. They will be joined by Dallas Johnson on vocals and percussion to explore the intersections where American Traditional music and the Village music of Zaire coexist. While they are playing you can partake of the Dubliner’s array of pints, or not, as you prefer.

Rockin’ Pinecones @ The Eagles Club #34, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($?) A little Cajun. A little Zydeco. A bunch of Swamp Pop. It all adds up to dancing nirvana when the Pinecones take the stage.

Friday, October 24Ecuador Manta @ The Parkway Theater, Minneapolis. 7pm ($15) Though they started in a small village in Ecuador 20 years ago, this group has gone beyond mere pan-pipe offerings (thought that distinctive instrument is still present) to incorporate a number of traditional and contemporary Latin rhythms in their music. Let’s hope there’s enough room for the dancers who will attend.

Tim Sparks & Marcus Wise @ The Icehouse, Minneapolis. 6:30 – 8:30pm (No cover) Sparks is one of the master finger-pickers we have in this town. Wise plays tablas with more versatility than you would expect from the instrument. Get a table close to the stage for dinner, so you can really appreciate the musicianship of these two men.

Paula Cole @ The Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($35 – $45) Cole had a number of top ten hits in the 90s. She’s recorded six albums in 18 years, and sold about 3 million copies, winning a Grammy, and getting nominated for another seven along the way. Her songs have been covered by Herbie Hancock and Annie Lennox, among others.

Sunday, October 26Minnesota Blues All-Stars CD Release Party @ Wilebski’s, Saint Paul. 1pm – 6pm ($10 includes CD) the Minnesota Blues Society is hosting this event. The CD is the second volume of tunes by MN Blues Artists. This one features performances Lisa Wenger; the Walking Wounded; Jimi Primetime Smith; Hurricane Harold w/Eric McCawley; the Mooseknuckle Brothers; and others, many of whom will be playing.

Lonesome Shack @ The Bayport BBQ, Bayport. 8pm ($10) Chris Johnson continues his bent for presenting Deep Blues with Lonesome Shack a trio with a raw sound. Their latest album is called Primitive, an apt description for their highly charged music. Ticket price generally includes their BBQ buffet, though you might want to check with them to make sure: 651-955-6337.

Sunday, Monday, October 27, 28Mambo’s Combo @ Bunkers, Minneapolis. 9:30pm ($7) Mambo’s Combo, Dr. Mambo’s Combo, or simply The Combo. Whatever the name, this group just keeps on playing (what is it – 20 years now?) and delivering a variety of dance-oriented old-school rock and R&B, with guests often sitting in for a tune or two. Here they are doing a Staple Singers classic.

For a more comprehensive listing of blues (and some roots) events, see the MN Blues Society calendar. For a comprehensive listing of Cajun and Zydeco events, see the Krewe de Walleye calendar. Dancers might want to check out the U Wanna Dance Calendar.